Rich in antioxidants: Red grapes
Red grapes are more than just the source for the world's finest wine - the fruits themselves are a wonder cure against heart attacks, according to new research.
And while a glass of wine is a recognised part of a healthy Mediterranean-style diet, it seems the bits of the grape thrown away to make the tipple could be even healthier.
Researchers made a cocktail extracted from the most fibre-rich parts of the grape such as the skin and seeds which are the waste byproduct in vineyards.
Tests on human volunteers found the extract was extremely rich in both fibre and antioxidants which reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease - the world's biggest killer.
Most other superfoods for the heart, like the plant extract psyllium or healthy oats for instance, are usually good for either fibre or antioxidants rather than both together.
But the tests at Madrid University using a concoction called Grape Antioxidant Dietary Fibre (GADF) was high in both potentially lifesaving ingredients.
Over a 16 week period, adding the extract to the volunteers' regular diet 'significantly' reduced their 'Lipid Profile' - the range of tests to determine a patient's risk of heart disease.
This included reducing blood pressure by up to five per cent and cholesterol by up to 14 per cent among the volunteers, said the research.
A Mediterranean-style diet including components like red wine, olive oil and tomatoes has long been considered healthier than other Western diets rich in deep fried and fast food.
The research suggests the grape extract would make such a diet up to 50 per cent even more effective in reducing the risks of heart attacks.
Cardiovascular disease is the biggest cause of death in the Western World accounting for up to 50 per cent of all natural mortalities.
The extract, if turned into a health supplement, could be particularly useful for those who suffer from high blood pressure or high cholesterol, said the researchers.
The results are published in the journal Nutrition today/Wed after 34 non-smoking adults were tested with the GADF extract over 16 weeks.
While that was going on, a further nine students from the university who were not given the extract were also monitored so they could be compared to the first group.
Those given GADF saw 'significantly reduced total cholesterol', particularly LDL, the type known as 'bad cholesterol' which can lead to heart problems in later life.
The reduction in both cholesterol and blood pressure was much bigger than the effects caused by other high fibre products on the market, they said.
Researcher Jara Perez Jimenez said: 'GADF showed significant reducing effects in lipid profile and blood pressure.
'The effects appear to be higher than the ones caused by other dietary fibres, such as oat fibre or psyllium, probably due to the combined effect of dietary fibre and antioxidants.'
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